The Simple City Life – Page 8 – Lover of beautiful things. And wine

Influence Link-Up

In T-minus two weeks I’m hopping in a car and driving off to Indy to attend The Influence Conference! To say I am excited is an understatement. I went last year and met the most incredible women. Women with a fierce love for Jesus and making Him known.

Lemme just tell you for a sec what I’m looking forward to:

A. Seeing friends I made last year at the conference and meeting friends in real life for the first time!

B. Sashes Market. Going into the conference last year I didn’t realize how beautiful and amazing everything would be in there. So, this year, it’s on Sashes Market. Me and you.

C. Soaking everything up. Learning more about Jesus. Learning more about how I can influence others for Him with this lil’ blog.

I bet you’re wondering what I’m going to have packed in my bag too, so I’ll go ahead and tell you:

A. Cash money for the Sashes Market, obvi.

B. Journal and my G2 pens (.38 extra fine point.) I don’t leave home without these pens and I don’t share them either. I know, so bad.

C. Underwear. I forgot them last year so thank ya Jesus for a mall attached to the conference center.

And for all the beautiful women who are linking up, here’s a pic so you can hunt me down and then we can grab coffee:

Chambray on chambray that day!!

Do you see my Better Life Bag over my right shoulder there?

You’re in luck, she’s gonna be at the conference. I am in L-O-V-E love with this bag and what Better Life Bags is all about. Go to her site and check her out. Then buy a bag.

Or, come with me to The Influence Conference and get one there!

Can’t wait to see everyone!

Dreams of Elston

One early-ish morning last week my dear friend Cassi called me up.

We always joke that we are already turning into little old ladies because we call each other earlier and earlier in the mornings as the years pass. I think she even called me before 8am one day but I was up and probably on my second cup of coffee.

I’m not sure what I was doing when she called, but I wasn’t able to answer for some reason. Just a few minutes later she texted me saying that she had an incredible dream about our baby Elston and to not listen to the voicemail she left because she was a blubbering mess trying to explain it to me. I love that she left me a message like that and I love that she is one of those kinds of friends.

I called her back not too long after and she explained the dream to me.

I had her write it down so I could remember it. So, here it is:

“I was in a room that was filled with light and there was a little boy sitting at a table with blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He was about 3 or so. I sat across from him and asked him questions. He wasn’t looking at me though. It was like his eyes were filled with the glory of the Lord and he was looking beyond me to something greater. He was at such peace and very calm. He didn’t say any words, he would only nod or shake his head. I asked him, “Do you know your Mommy and Daddy miss you a lot?” and he nodded as he continued to look peacefully beyond my eyes to something more important and worthy of his gaze, which I believe was God! It was so powerful and moving. I feel honored that God allowed me to have this dream and recall it.

I really believe it was God inspired.”

My jaw dropped and tears overwhelmed my eyes.

I don’t know too much about dreams and how they work but I really do believe that God does work through them. There are stories upon stories of that kind of stuff and God worked in dreams in the Bible. I feel like I can’t deny the fact that He works through ’em. Here’s the crazy part, take a look back to the dream I had a few months ago about Elston here.

I don’t think this is just some random coincidence. I really believe we had dreams of the same boy and I believe that boy was our sweet sunshine baby. I take these dreams and receive them as gifts from the Lord. No matter how crazy that may sound or how crazy people may think I am for believing it. I feel like it’s one of the many ways God has shown His sweet love to me during this season and His way of showing His love to one of the people here on earth that would have loved our boy so well.

Thank you Lord for these dreams. For the chance to see the baby that made me a mama. It is by your grace that I got to house him for a short while, it is by your grace that He is with you, and it is by your grace that Cassi and I got a glimpse of this sweet boy. My heart aches to see him again. In Heaven. Where we can rejoice together in Your presence.

Back in full swing

This past weekend, some of us Cru staff and some of those amazing Cru student leaders piled in a bunch of cars and headed on over to Peoria, IL. It was a weekend full of catching up, planning for this school year and laughing so much I cried.

Here’s the group. You all are amazing people. I love you so very much!

Our ol’ friend Marcelo gave an awesome talk. Here he is prepping for it on our way there.

Marcelo & Katy led some Here’s Trevor in his bro tank

awesome sets of worship. as we planned our hearts out.

Nothin’ says “Central Illinois” like Avanti’s.

These people play a serious game of kickball. So many laughs and smiles. I loved every minute. I decided to be the photographer because I “accidentally” left my sneakers at home. I had such a sweet moment looking out at all of these students at one point. If I were to pick a favorite team that day, I wouldn’t be able to because I absolutely love each and every one of them. You all are wonderfully made and loved deeply by the Lord. I am so grateful to Him for allowing me to be a part of how He is using you at DePaul.

Kiersten & Kassie caught in the Yay Team!

cutest candid ever.

(Alliteration to the max!)

Emily and Emily. Beautiful lovelies.

Emily, your top knot is amazing. I can’t stop swooning over it.

Cru DePaul leaders, you make the world go ’round. Keep pursuing Jesus, keep learning, keep stepping out in faith for His Kingdom. You inspire me like crazy, you accept me even when I fall off of air mattresses while trying to impress you, and you make me want to be more like Him.

Love you.

A special thanks to Northminster Presbyterian for housing us, feeding us, and loving us.

Bed & Breakfast

Just when I thought labor day weekend couldn’t get any better after the retreat with my students, PK surprised me with the cherry on top of that weekend sundae! He and our friend Raef had gone to play a manly game of golf on Saturday and planned a little getaway for Sara (Raef’s wife) and me.

You sly dogs, you.

So, PK picked me up from DePaul, we re-packed the suitcase and headed to the Copperstone Inn. I think any Bed & Breakfast we go to from here on out will be chump change compared to this place. It.was.amazing.